Buratino Blasts Home In Coventry

Buratino produced a scintillating display to take the Group Two Coventry Stakes over six furlongs on the first day of Royal Ascot, UK, Tuesday, June 16.

The two-year-old Exceed and Excel colt, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by William Buick, was switched off at the rear of the stands' side group early on as the 17 runners split into two early on.

He took slightly closer order as the field converged after the first quarter-mile and cruised up behind the leaders approaching the two-furlong marker.

Buratino ran on strongly to take the advantage with a furlong to race and readily quickened clear under hands and heels to score by two lengths from Air Force Blue in 1m 13.11s on good to firm ground.

Sheikh Mohammed, Godolphin's founder and driving force, said: "It is very, very good to start with this win. Buratino is a very good horse who is improving and Mark Johnston has done well.

"I love horses - I was born on a horse - and I love coming to Royal Ascot to see the horses here.

"Buratino is my son Sheikh Hamdan's horse and we will discuss with him where he wants to go."

Johnston, saddling his first winner in the royal blue colours of Godolphin in Europe, commented: "Buratino has lived up to expectations and more, because he was beaten at Sandown and Ascot over five furlongs, and the race he won at Epsom was quite different - it looked so impressive, but until you meet other six-furlong horses you don't know.

"Stepping Buratino up in trip to six furlongs has been the key, and William has now ridden him three times. He said Buratino has given him a better feel with every run.

"I overheard William saying to Sheikh Mohammed he wouldn't be afraid of trying seven furlongs later in the year. That said, Buratino has a lot of speed as well.

"He's been a busy horse, and was the most experienced in the field today - when you go to Royal Ascot you want experience under your belt. When he was beaten, I thought it might have been the wrong approach, but I was proved right today.

"People ask me if he's improved between races, but I don't know because he does nothing at home but eat and sleep. He hasn't worked or galloped since the season started which is my normal approach - let's see what they can do on the racecourse, and it's worked out okay.

"He is a high-class horse - the Coventry brings together the best colts in Europe and is a very tough race to win.

"With any horse who wins the Coventry, you are dreaming about the Guineas the following year.

"Buratino is clearly mature as he won on the first day of the season but he has come on a long way since then.

"I've known Godolphin for such a long time, over 20 years, and didn't feel any pressure today - it's the same people with the same owner (Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum). They made the decision to transfer to the Godolphin colours and it made no difference to me because they are the same win or lose."

William Buick added: "We had a pretty good run through. He is not the fastest away but he has got a great finishing kick. It was great that we got an uninterrupted run and I could ride him as I liked.

"It is a long last furlong here at Ascot and I would have liked to have waited a bit longer but you have to go when you're ready and he won really well. He is one of the best two-year-olds around.

"Buratino is a horse that has come on for every run. Mark Johnston had him spot on and he should come on again. His experience round Epsom last time helped him a fair bit today as he was more experienced than many other runners.

"He is a very good two-year-old and I have no doubt that he could get seven furlongs. Let's take everything one step at a time and see how he continues to progress. It seemed like the field was pretty strung out, so it felt like a good performance.

"It is huge to get a winner on the board so early. It is a big week for Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin so it is good to get the first one out the way."